Reducing Meat Consumption Can Help Fight Climate Change

Aug 12, 2019 by apost team

Experts from the United Nations have recently claimed that reducing meat consumption can help to ward off the impact of climate change.

A comprehensive report on climate change backed by the UN found that the consumption of animal products is harming the climate. However, officials and scientists haven't yet called on everyone to turn in their steak knives and begin eating strictly vegetarian or vegan food.

They acknowledged that more of the earth's population could be fed with the use of less land and resources if people would cut down on their consumption of meat. One hundred seven scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change determined that the carbon emission can be drastically reduced by using land more efficiently.

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The report was finalized after major discussions were held in Geneva, Switzerland. Professor Pete Smith is a professional environmental scientist hailing from Aberdeen University in the United Kingdom. He told the BBC:

"We're not telling people to stop eating meat. In some places people have no other choice. But it's obvious that in the West we're eating far too much."

The report has made it clear that we are wasting a significant amount of food as well. The panel of scientists has estimated that these greenhouse emissions related to food waste and loss may comprise 8 to 10% of worldwide emissions. This is a difficult statistic to wrap your mind around. In the report, the scientists also called for action to help stop desertification and soil damage. Both of these are contributing to the harmful effects of climate change. Additionally, it warns about the negative impact of a plan by some countries to burn trees in order to create electricity. These scientists warn that overuse of this method could negatively impact food production.

The worldwide economy and the basis of human society overall are both dependent on the land surface of Earth and the way it is currently functioning. Our drastic use of technology seems to be shaping the world in negative ways. The emission of greenhouse gases is one of these egregious impacts.

If you found this article interesting, show it to a family member or friend concerned about climate change. How do you do your part for the environment? Will you be reducing your consumption of animal products after reading this? Let us know in the comments - and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!